Re-using an old /etc/ is not safe, I would recommend avoiding that and only taking selected configs as needed. $HOME is less sensitive, but I would usually suggest to follow a similar procedure.

Would there be differences in the configs in /etc between 32 bit and 64 bit even if installing the 64 bit OS on the SAME machine?

The question is more: Why should not be a difference in the configs in /etc between 32 bit and 64 bit even if installing the 64 bit OS on the SAME machine?

/etc is not said to be shareable and its easy for an application to have configurations specific to an architecture. e.g. with MultiArch hopefully officially coming around the block soon you might have architecture dependent configs in /etc to let it work in your context.

_________________MfG. DonKult
"I never make stupid mistakes. Only very, very clever ones." ~ The Doctor

Ecclesiastic

Post subject: Solved!! Posted: 28.01.2012, 04:18

Joined: 2012-01-23
Posts: 3

Status: Offline

Thanks you all guys,

using an usb pen drive, the actual installation was quick and
straight forward. mounting home afterwards worked instantly
and I've just re-used a few configs for instance /etc/apt.

Since the initial installation was already in 2007, I've
removed a bunch of obsolete packages from the
apps_installed.txt text file before I was able to
restore everything.